There’s a dirty little secret abounding in campgrounds and RV parks all across America! Rumors are flying that an upside down pineapple and flamingo may have some secret code that some campers use to show a different kind of hospitality.
But does that mean that Grandma’s tacky pink flamingos and pineapple garden flag mean she’s one of them?
How could something so innocent as a piece of tropical fruit and foofoo birds mingos turn into something risque?
Well, if you’ve not noticed by now, the delightfully tacky yard art seems to be springing up everywhere at campgrounds and people’s houses.
From garden flags, solar lights and welcome mats and signs, campers are putting it all out there!And I mean that in a literal sense.
So, let’s get down and dirty and see what the and see what the secret squirrel meaning behind flamingos and upside down pineapples.
Or is it just some made up fictitious fantasy?
And speaking of fantasies…
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…and Flamingos?
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Since we’ve been full-time RVing, we’ve camped at hundreds of campgrounds and RV parks all across the United States.
Once we’d get our motorhome set up,we’d step out for a stroll to stretch our legs and check out the campground’s facilities. We also like to nose around to see what’s new (and old) in RVs.
But, we’ve been noticing something considerably odd at some campsites.
I’m talking about a pineapple on a picnic table, funky garden flags, pineapple yard art and camping lights, etc.
And there’s seemingly a lot of them but it’s not exactly the fact that they have them but how they are being displayed.
✰READ MORE✰How to Turn Your Campsite into Glampsite: 20 Campsite Decorating Ideas
What does a pineapple signify?
Dating back toearly Christian art of the 1500s and 1600s, the pineapple symbolized prosperity and eternal life.
And then a century or two later, pineapples became a symbol for the colonized America; welcome, prosper, worship as you will.
In the days of wooden ships and salty-bearded seafarers, sea captains would bring back exotic fruits and gifts from foreign lands.
Once his sailing ship returned to homeport, Captain Morgan would place a pineapple on his doorstep as a welcoming invitation for his neighbors and friends to visit and sample the fruits of his labor and tell stories of his seafaring adventures.
Today, the pineapple is recognized as a traditional welcoming expression throughout United States; especially the southern region.
That same piney tropical fruit still symbolizes those intangible assets we appreciate in our homes: warmth, welcome, friendship and hospitality.
But, as you know, America isn’t quite the same as it was some 300 years ago. There’s actually a little more to it than welcoming the neighbors over for some fruity co*cktails!
Why does anupside down pineapple mean?
In the land of the free and easy, those upside down pineapples do indeed symbol something.
Are you ready for this? *drum roll*
They are like some secret squirrel smoke signal for Swingers looking for a little action (or re-action?). It’s like their own little welcome mat for ‘birds of the same feather’.
KRMG.com cites,
“Due to the pineapple symbolism, swingers have adopted the fruit to let other like minded people know that they are welcome and want to connect.”
Now, my question would be, “why advertise this kind of lifestyle at a generic campground to begin with?”
Is it because the camping or nomadic lifestyle may lend itself to people being lonely and this is a way to advertise that they’re sexually deprived?
According to a free love sex group which I care not to advertise their website, it’show you display a pineapple that signals that they’re“open for business”.
Thepineapple must be displayed upside down.
So, regardless if you’re gay, straight, middle of the road or teetering on the edge, you just be sure to display your pineapple as you intend.
Otherwise, you may get quite an brow-raising knock at your door or unwelcome catcall to action!!
What do Flamingos signify?
Now Grandma, I get it. You’re wondering why your ‘mingos are getting caught in this. Before you start boxing up your pink flamingos, I suggest you keep reading.
Now, according to useless information, those retro pink plastic flamingos actually date back to the 1950’s. Their popularity grew exponentially.
But, it was short lived. People packed up the trendy birds and stuffed them away in their attics.
But, a few decades later, Grandma’s kids and grandkids dug them out and though they were pretty cool. And out they came, speared into gardens and lawns all across America.
Then, they startedflocking back to campgrounds to go with the refurbished retro campers. Once that happened, we started seeing them in stores everywhere; even Amazon.
But this time, there’s rumor they too, have ulterior meanings.Fictionally, those pinkplastic flamingos are often used as a symbol of kitsch and being insultingly cheap.
Now, the reality is, like pineapples symbolize all their great things. Flamingos portray peace, beauty, balance, grace,femininity and innocence. Flamingos also represent femininity, confidence and innocence.
Wait, did I say ‘innocence’?
In campgrounds all across the United States, similar to pineapples, flamingos are assumedly something more than just some fun campsite art.
To some, mingosare allegedly somesecret squirrel society symbols that hint other Swingers to come over and playas well.
But I’m here to say, that’s just not true!
So Grandma, you don’t have to pack away your retro-y pink flamingos and welcoming pineapples. Because the swinger connotation of flamingos just isn’t true.
It’s just the pineapples…upside down pineapples mean something totally different.
Now, let’s get to the real dirty little secret regarding what those upside down pineapples while camping.
Swingers in Campgrounds
According to the Urban Dictionary, a Swinger is “a person who dates andsleeps with multiple people at the same time”.
As I was doing a little investigatingto get the down and dirty answers, I was shocked to find a website,Swing Lifestyleand it has a subset,Campground Swingers Site.
What’s ironic is at the time of myself writing this article in Podunk, South Dakota, it showed “There are a total of 2842 Campground swingers, within 100 miles.”
Did Imention we were in PODUNK, South Dakota? They must really get bored there!
Okay then!I guess thistakes those internet dating sites to a whole new level; makingeharmony, Match, Farmers Only and even Silver Singles look like Boy Scout Tiger Cub meets Girl Scout Brownie.
Anyway, the deeper I dug into the internet abyss, I found myself teetering closer and closer to the dark web. Holding my breath, out of curiosity, I clicked to see where my research was taking me.
One site,Swingular,will have youexplore your wild side. Funny thing is, they actually have a dedicated pageLifestyle RV Parks & Campgrounds. HA! We’re onto something here!
And, the more I further dug into that website, Swingers in campgrounds definitely is a thing.
So, let’s get back to the flamingos and upside down pineapples.
Is there an assumed correlation between these yard art objects?
Or, is it some made up rumored urban legend like Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, Area 51 and horny mythical unicorns?
And since I’m not a Swinger nor don’t plan to be, I still found this to be quite interesting.
Is there something else we don’t know about? Do Swingers also send smoke signals with their campfires to communicate their open-door policy.
But the question still remains, are those tropical yard art objectsinvitational gestures of hospitality of another kind?
Who knows? At least I don’t…or won’t. But if you think I’m done with this, keep reading.
What do RVers have to say about flamingos and upside down pineapples?
What’s actually humorous is this discussion about this taboo lifestyle hits the RV Facebook pages regularly. And this is what prompted me to write this article.
I couldn’t resist collecting a few comments from some of those discussions regarding Swingers leaving fruity cues to their open door policy.
As these could be a bit embarrassing, I left out last names to protect the innocent (or guilty?).
“…it seems to be the case that quite a few swingers use flamingos as a sign of availability and pineapples on the door or porch as a signal that someshenanigans are going on right then.” -Rob C.
“If the flamingo thing is true, my Mom has a whole other side to her that I never would’ve guessed.” -Scott W.
“I like flamingoes and had no idea about this, so i could have had some confusing conversations.” -David H.
But then, there are RV park naysayers who believe swingers using tropical fruit and pink plastic foo foo birds is just a bunch of hogwash.
“Some people just like pineapples and flamingos, keep in mind. Pineapples are still an indication of hospitality in my mind, for instance. I don’t think it’s a rule, per se. I’m aware now of the potential implications but I definitely try not to assume a single thing. Could get you in trouble!” -Jennifer J.
“Flamingos and pineapples outside your RV as decor mean you’re a great neighbor who’s gracious and caring.” -Hannah C.
“These are just dumb urban legends. No one in those lifestyles are using those as signals, and most people with those things out have nothing to do with that lifestyle. This is just people trying to find ways to judge others.” -Lee L.
“I can tell you the 75 year old lady in a RV in Florida that has a huge collection of flamingos in her campsite did not put them there to attract swingers. There are plenty of other ways to meet people in those lifestyles that do not requires a bat signal.” -Lee L.
This makes for some interestingly fun campfire conversation, doesn’t it?
So, if you’re not into this whole “playing well with others”, you can still have your flamingos and pineapples at your campsite or even in your yard at home.
I just do want to warn you, if you’re straight as an arrow, don’t turn those pineapples upside down. Or you may get ‘solicitors’ knocking on your door.
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Final thoughts on what flamingos and upside down pineapples mean at campgrounds?
I guess we’ve debunked the myth behind flamingos and an upside down pineapple meaning at campgrounds.
If you’re into the swinger lifestyle, now you know what to look for.
But if you’re not a Swinger, you’ll at least make certain to keep yours standing at attention…and get a little chuckle when you do see upside down pineapples!
🦩🍍This article was written for fun and tongue-in-cheek humor entertainment. Always On Liberty and their writers will not be held liable for any relationship or marriage breakups or infidelity because of this article. If you’re offended by this article, I’m not sorry. 🦩🍍
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